20 november 1914The only son of the late Hon. Richard M.W. Dawson and Mrs Dawson, ofHolne Park, Ashburton, Devon. Grandson of the First Earl of Dartrey.SingleMentioned in despatchesZillebeke Churchyard Row E , Stone 6

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Queen's Medal with 4 clasps

Military footsteps

1898

1911

August 191420 november 1914

In 1898 he received his first appointment in the Army when he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Coldstream GuardsHe was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant in 1899 and was promoted Captain in 1907.He voluntarily joined the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Captain.While on the active list he served in the South African War , being present at operations in the Orange Free State, 1900, including actions at the Vet and Zand rivers. Also at the operations in the Transvaal in May and June of the same year, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria and in the Orange River Colony between July and November 1900 and operations in Cape Colony from 1900-02.He received the Queen's Medal with 4 clasps and the King's Medal with 2 clasps. He rejoined the Coldstream Guards , as Captain , on the outbreak of War.He was killed in action in Zillebeke.

De Gunzburg Alexis George , BaronBritishSecond Lieutenant11th Hussars attached to the Royal Horse Guards276 may 1887 , Paris , France6 november 1914Youngest son of the late Baron, and Baroness de Gunzburg, of 199, Boulevard St. Germain, Paris. He was related to Mrs. Bischoffsheim, to the Dowager Countess of Desart and to Sir Maurice and Lady Fitzgerald.He was Russian by birth and naturalised in order to enlist in the British Army on the outbreak of war with Germany.SingleEducated at Eton Career soldierZillebeke Churchyard Row B , Stone 1

Military footstepsOctober 1914

6 november 1914

He left England with his regiment proceeding directly to the firing line in Belgium, where , by his bravery and coolness under fire , he attracted the favourable attention of officers and men.He was ever ready to undertake dangerous missions and Always cheery.It was related of him how he left the trenches at great risk to fetch a doctor, after he himself had attended to a wound received by Lord Alastair Innes Kerr.

He was killed near Ypres.At the time he was with the Life Guards and was sent with three other young officers, who had constituted themselves a little band they called 'The Fire Brigade' to bring up the Royal Horse Guards to support an attack at Zillebeke.They were all on foot, and safely carried out their mission, having had to run across an open field for some two hundred yards under fire, but on the way back were shot.

He was buried with Colonel Gordon Wilson , Royal Horse Guards , Major Dawnay and Captain Wyndham, Life Guards who were killed on the same day. During the day he was killed he had been carrying messages under heavy fire to all parts.

Several officers who served with him wrote to his aunt , Mrs. Bischoffsheim , most appreciative accounts of the young officer's conduct and the Baroness de Gunzburg received a telegram from Their Majesties the King and Queen expressing their sympathy, and adding :" His Majestyhas learnt how gallantly Baron de Gunzburg fought with his comrades of the Royal Horse Guards, although his duties as interpreter did not necessitate his presence in the firing line."

From R.M.C. Sandhurst he joined the Grenadier Guards in February 1898 becoming Lieutenant in October 1899.

Was present at :- The operations in the Orange Free State- The actions at Poplar Grove and Driefonteinfor which he received the Queen's medal with 2 clasps.

Was seconded for service with the Chinese Regiment at Wei-hai-Wei.He was promoted Captain in 1909 and was ADC from November 1907 to July 1909, and Assistant Military Secretary , from August 1909 to November 1911, to the General Officer Commanding- in-Chief, Northern Command.With the rank of Major from 1913 he left Southampton for France with his regiment as Company Commander of N°3 Coy .He was killed in action by a high explosive shell at Zillebeke in the same action as Lord CongletonFor his services in the Great War he was mentioned in the supplement to Sir John French's Despatch of 14 January 1915, published by the War Office in April 1915.

He was a member of the Guards' and Turf Clubs, and was a throrough all-round sportsman, his principal recreations being shooting, fishing, cricket and polo.

Neill NormanBritishCaptain13th Hussars3422 december 1880, Manchester6 november 1914Son of Robert Neill.Husband of Eleanor de Courcy Neill, of Yew Tree Cottage,Merrow, Guildford, Surrey.- Children : Audrey born 1911Educated at Harrow.Career soldier​Sir John French, in his Despatch of the 20th November 1914, particularly commended the work of the Cavalry Brigade under Brigadier-General Kavanagh, and Captain Neill was subsequently mentioned in the Despatch of the 14 January 1915.​Zillebeke ChurchyardRow A , Stone 4

Mentioned in despatches

Military footsteps

South African Campaign

1910July 19101912September 19146 november 1914

He was gazetted to the 19th Hussars from the Militia in 1902 druing the South African War , in which he took part , being present at :- Operations in the Transvaal , Orange River Colony and Cape Colony.receiving the Queen's medal with 4 clasps.

He was Adjutant of his regiment for five monthsPromoted into the 13th Hussars as Captain in July 1910.Passed into the Staff College and qualified also as an Interpreter in French.Appointed Brigade-Major of the Household Cavalry Brigade.He was killed in action near Klein Zillebeke, when the French gave way under overwhelming numbers of the enemy.The Cavalry Brigade advanced and held their ground.Captain Neill was hit when taking a message to his Brigade to advance, and leading them on.

The General commanding the Brigade wrote :" The French on our right had suddenly given way , and we were sent to stop the retreat, which we were successfully doing when he was killed. I had just sent him on a message to order a further advance, and it was when returning from this that he was hit."

Parnell Henry Bligh Fortesque , Rt. Hon., 5th Baron CongletonBritishLieutenant2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards246 september 1890 , Annerville , Clonmel10 november 19145th Baron Congleton and a Baronet of Ireland Eldest son of the late Major General Henry, 4th Baron Congleton, C.B., and Baroness Congleton.He was also related to the poet Parnell, a friend of Addison, was a distant cousin of Charles Stewart Parnell, the famous Irish politcian.SingleHe was educated at Eton (Somerville's) and New College , Oxford where he took very good second class Honours for History and was also Master of the New college and Magdalen Beagles.Career soldierLord Congleton was mentioned in Sir John French's Despatch of the 14th January 1915, for gallant conduct and skilful handling of his platoon against terrific odds on the 6th November 1914, thereby saving the British line at that point.​Zillebeke ChurchyardRow E , Stone 2

Mentioned in despatches

Military footsteps

1912

March 191310 november 1914

He joined the Grenadier Guards as a University candidate , but his having taken honours at the University gave him many month's seniority and his commission was antedated to July 1911.Promoted Lieutenant in March 1913.Killed in action

Lord Congleton was a gifted and many-sided man : a keen sportsman, a good shot (small and big game), and as a traveller, he had hoped to go with Stackhouse to the Antarctic.He wrote articles in magazines and in "The Field" on sporting subjects over the signature of "Con".He was a polo player, and ardent Tariff Reformer and student of social problems, but had joined no political party, though he was often in the House of Lords as a listener.

He also took an active interest in Rural Housing etc.Memoirs of his career have been published in "The Field" , "The World","Truth","Country Life", "British Sports and Sportsmen","The Tramp" and in several of the daily papers.

Eton College

New College , Oxford

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Petersen William SinclairBritishSecond LieutenantRoyal Horse Artillery attached 2nd Life Guards2210 july 1892 , Newcastle-on-Tyne6 november 1914Only son of Mr. and Mrs. William Petersen of 32 , Inverness Terrace , Hyde Park , London W. and Cherkley Court, Leatherhead, Surrey.SingleEducated at Cargilfield and Glenalmond,After leaving public school he studied for a time in France and then entered Trinity College, Cambridge , where he took his B.A. degree in June 1913.Eeven as a boy he travelled a great deal, having crossed the continent of North America to the Pacific coast when only nine years old and later crossed the Atlantic Ocean several times.He continued his studies in Germany,acquiring a fluent knowledge of the French and German languages-an attainment of much value in the Great War.Career soldierZillebeke ChurchyardRow C , Stone 3

Military footsteps

Pre War

19 october 1914

6 november 1914

After serving in the O.T.C. at Cambridge, he joined the Essex Royal Horse Artillery in May 1914 but understanding that his battery was not likely to go on active service at once , he volunteered at the commencement of hostilities, and was given a commission in the 2nd Life Guards.He was entrusted by the Colonel of that regiment with the training of fifty men and horses at Ludgershall Camp on Salisbury Plain.

He received orders to take his party to the front as reinforcement, and left camp that same evening.Travelling to Havre port , France, through Southampton, he took his draft across France to the fighting line in Flanders, which he reached on the 29th October 1914 after successful marches.At the front his party was posted to the 7th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division and he received the commendations of his superior officers on the accomplishment of his duty.Killed in actionThe 2nd Life Guards were ordered to recapture a village from which the French had been driven. The Regiment dismounted and charged the village with the bayonet, cleared it of the enemy, of whom they killed thirty and captured twenty.A Major of the 2nd Life Guards thus described the part played by Second Lieutenant Petersen in this action :" I saw him arrive with the draft at the time the regiment was doing such arduous work,and in actually keeping back a very strong attack of the enemy. Tour brother died with two other officers of the rigiment in driving the Germans back. They accomplished the work,and in so doing actually saved, most likely, a great defeat of our arms. The fact is recognised by the General. I heard - I do not vouch for the truth of it- your brother killed sixteen germans before he was killed. Your brother died a hero's death,giving his life for his country."

That he was a keen and enthusiastic young officer, of charming manners,and great personal courage is amply testifiedto by letters subsequently received from his senior and brother officers at the front.Thus a Major of the Essex Royal Horse Artillery who had been invalided home from the front wrote :" During the last month I have had dozens of friends killed beside me,but I knew none of them intimately as I did your son. We became the greatest friends from the time we met. He was a very keen officer,and had all the makings of a good soldier:and, having lived a good deal abroad,he was in addition a cultivated and interesting person to talk to. I met Colonel Ferguson a few days ago near Ypres, and he told me how much he liked your son. He added that he was getting on so well with his brother officers. It will be some consolation to you and Mrs. Petersen to know he died as a soldier and a gallant gentleman would wish to do."

A Captain of the 2nd Life Guards wrote of him as follows :" As the senior officer , left with the regiment, and as I was also his Squadron Leader, I write to let you know that he died leading his troop most gallantly as we advanced under heavy fire. I had only known him a week,but in that short time I could not help realising his splendid characteristics,which endeared him to us all. He was one indeed to be proud of."

The reverend A.E.Boyd, Chaplain , attached to the Cavalry Division,who officiated at hus funeral wrote :" Everything was done to carry out the burial as reverently as possible. The Germans were attacking Klein Zillebeke not for away. Two of our batteries were in action quite close to the village. It was not unfitting that so brave man ,an officer, should be laid to rest under these circumstances."

Rising Robert EdwardBritishMajor1st Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment4323 may 1871 , Great Yarmouth , Norfolk7 november 1914Son of Thomas and Kate Rising, of The Manor House, Great Ormesby, NorfolkHe was twice married :In 1896 to Amy Worship, who died the following year.In 1901 to Constance Elizabeth Rising, of The Old Hall, Great Ormsby.Children : - Robert Edis born August 1905- Elsie Mary Elizabeth born July 1909Educated at Charterhouse, where he was in the Football XV and in the Cadet Corps and at Trinity College , Cambridge.He passed into the R.M.C. Sandhurst , sixth on the list, and passed out twelfth with honours.Distinguished Service Order​Mentioned in despatchesZillebeke ChurchyardRow E , Stone 5

M.I.D.

Military footsteps

November 1892February 1900

1898November 1902

April 1906November 19147 november 1914

Award

He received his commission in the Gloucestershire RegimentObtained his Company Took part in the South African War, being present at :- the relief of Kimberley- the operations in the Orange Free State , including actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove and Driefontein.- the NatalHe received the Queen's medal with 4 clasps.He obtained the 'extra' certificate in musketry​Passed the examination for promotion, attaining the higher standard of proficiency,carrying a special certificate.Passed the signalling course also with a special certificate.He received his Majority , the promotion not being gazetted till after his death.Killed in action

Distinguished Service Order For gallant action at the defence of Langemarck on 23 october 1914 , when he went up with supports and conspiciously controlled the defence of the battalion's trenches against a determined attack by the enemy.But for this stout defence the line would have been penetrated.

St. George Howard Avenel BlighBritishSecond Lieutenant1st Life Guards19

15 november 1914 Son of Howard Bligh St. George and Florence Evelyn St. George, of Coombe House, Kingston Hill, SurreySingleZillebeke ChurchyardRow A ,Stone 2

Military footsteps

January 191415 november 1914

He was gazetted into the 1st Life Guards on probation He was shot by snipers at Klein Zillebeke.

His mother donated the stained glass window in Zillebeke Church as a remembrance to her son , with the picture of St. George, surrounded by 13 coates of armour of English families related to St. George :'St George', 'Teca', 'D'Arcy', 'Avenell', 'Engaine', 'Shepperith' ,'Argentine', 'Berefford', Bertram', 'Herford', 'De La Haye' en 'Coggshall'

Stocks Michael GeorgeBritishLieutenant2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards2124 november 189210 november 1914Son of Michael and Charlotte Stocks, of Woodhall, Downham, Norfolk.He was a grandson, on his mother's side of the late Colonel Sir Richard Ellison of Boultham and his paternal grandfather - Major Stocks - took part in the charge at Balaclava, and , as a thankoffering for his safe return, the family built the Church of St. Mary , Halifax.SingleEducated at Eton and the R.M.C. SandhurstCareer soldierZillebeke ChurchyardRow E , Stone 1

Military footsteps

February 1912October 1913​November 1914

He entered the GuardsBecoming Lieutenant He was killed in the trenches near Ypres on 10th November 1914.

Symes-Thompson CholmeleyBritishCaptain2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards3316 april 1881 , Cavendish Square , London17 november 1914Son of the late Dr. Edmund Symes-Thompson, F.R.C.P (died 1906)., and Elizabeth Symes-Thompson (died 1920). He married on 18 january 1912 Grace E. J. Symes-Thompson (nee Churchill), of 43, Argyll Rd., Kensington, London at Finmere Church where both his parents were buried aswell.Children :- Sibill Laura born January 1913Educated at HarrowCareer soldierZillebeke ChurchyardRow F , Stone 2

Military footsteps

September 1899July 1900

May 1901January 19052

17 november 1914

He joined the 3rd Militia Bn. Yorkshire Light Infantry as a 2nd LieutenantPromoted Lieutenant During the South African War he served with his battalion at Malta.Appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Grenadier GuardsPromoted Lieutenant , obtaining his Company in july 1910.

At the beginning of the Great War he was transferred to the 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards and sent to the front.He was killed in the First Battle of Ypres and was carried to the churchyard in Zillbeke and buried there side by side with six other Grenadier officers who had fallen about the same time.

He was a good cricketer being a member of the Household Brigade Officers' Cricket Club, and was also a polo player.

Tufnell Carleton WyndhamBritish Lieutenant2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards225 august 1892 , Sydenham , Kent 6 november 1914 Son of Carleton Fowell Tufnell and Laura Gertrude Tufnell, of Watendone Manor, Kenley, Surrey..Single Educated at at Eton, where he was captain of the Cricket XI, and for two years captain of the Football XI, and later R.M.C. SandhurstWas the winner of the Victor Ludorum Cup , President of the Eton Society and winner of the Kings medal in the O.T.C.Career soldierZillebeke ChurchyardRow D ,Stone 1

Military footsteps

September 1912September 19146 november 1914

Passing through Sandhurst , RMC , he joined the Grenadier Guards​Promoted Lieutenant and being for some time in the King's Company in the 1st Bn.The timely arrival of 7 Brigade and the subsequent counter attack took the pressure off the battalion but at some point during the counter attack Carleton Tufnell was shot through the throat and died of his wounds soon afterwards.

Writing on 8 November, Captain Eben Pike, the battalion's Adjutant, mourned his passing:'Poor young Tufnell was killed the day before yesterday. He is the second machine gun officer we have had killed and was engaged to a girl in England. Poor chap, he was always so excited about the post coming and getting his letters.'

He represented the Army in Association Football versus the Dutch Army on two coccasions and was a prominent member of the Household Brigade Cricket Club.

17 november 1914 Son of William and Sarah Whitfield, of 25, West View, Medomsley Edge, Medomsley, Co. DurhamSingleZillebeke ChurchyardRow A ,Stone 1

Queen's medal with 3 clasps

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MID

Wilson Gordon ChesneyBritishLieutenant ColonelRoyal Horse Guards493 august 1865 in Wimmera , Victoria , Australia6 november 1914 Eldest son of Sir Samuel Wilson, Bt. On 21 November 1891 he married Lady Sarah Isabella Augusta Spencer-Churchill of 23c, Bruton St., London. Sixth daughter of the 7th Duke of Marlborough.Educated at Eton and Christ Church in 1885.Whilst at Eton , he had seen an attempt on the life of Queen VictoriaCareer soldierZillebeke ChurchyardRow B , Stone 2​

MVO

Military footsteps

May 1887December 1891November 1894South African Campaign

January 1903October 1907October 1911

6 november 1914

He joined the Royal Horse Guards from the MilitiaPromoted LieutenantPromoted Captain He took part in the South African War during which he was on the Staff as A.D.C.to Major-General Baden-Powell , Commanding the Mafeking Frontier Forces from august 1899. to may 1900 and A.D.C.​To the same officer after appointment as Major General , South Africa from may to july 1900,He was present at the defence of Mafeking , including actions of the 26 december 1899 and 12th may 1900.He was twice menioned in despatches and received the Queen's Medal with 3 clasps.

Lady Sarah went out to South Africa to join him and in 1899 was recruited by Alfred Harmsworth to cover the Siege of Mafeking for the Daily Mail after one of the Mail correspondents, Ralph Hellawell, was arrested by the Boers as he tried to get out of the besieged town of Mafeking to send his dispatch. Having thus become the first woman war correspondent, Baden-Powell asked her to leave Mafeking for her own safety after the Boers threatened to storm the British garrison.This she duly did, and set off on a madcap adventure in the company of her maid, travelling through the South African countryside until she was finally captured by the enemy and returned to the town in exchange for a horse thief.When she re-entered Mafeking she found it had not been attacked as predicted.Over four miles of trenches had been dug and 800 bomb shelters built to protect the residents from the constant shelling of the town.On 26 March 1900, she wrote:“The Boers have been extremely active during the last few days. Yesterday we were heavily shelled and suffered eight casualties … Corporal Ironside had his thigh smashed the day before, and Private Webbe, of the Cape Police, had his head blown off in the brickfields trenches.”Although death and destruction surrounded her, she preferred not to dwell too much on the horrors of the siege.She described cycling events held on Sundays and the town’s celebration of Colonel Baden-Powell’s birthday which was declared a holiday. Despite these cheery events, dwindling food supplies became a constant theme in the stories which she sent back to the Mail and the situation seemed hopeless when the garrison was hit by an outbreak of malarial typhoid.In this weakened state the Boers managed to penetrate the outskirts of the town, but the British stood firm and repelled the assault.​The siege finally ended after 217 days when the Royal Horse and Canadian Artillery galloped into Mafeking on 17 May 1900.Promoted MajorPromoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel​Succeeded to the command of his regiment as Lieutenant-Colonel On the outbreak of war, Gordon left for France as Lt. Colonel in the Royal Horse Guards.​He died from wounds received in action

Probate was granted to his wife of 21 Hertford Street, London, and Earl Howe on December 23rd 1914. He left £189,230-17s.

Wyndham William Reginald , The HonourableBritishCaptainLincolnshire Yeomanry attached to the 1st Life Guards3816 march 1876 , Petworth, Sussex6 november 1914 Third son of the late 2nd Baron Leconfield and the Dowager Lady Leconfield, of 12, Great Stanhope St., London.Zillebeke ChurchyardSpecial Memorial 1

Queen's medal with 3 clasps

Military footstepsPre War

South African Campaign

Intermediate years

World War 1

He joined the 17th Lancers as Second Lieutenant in March 1896, becoming Lieutenant in May 1897 and Captain in July 1901.

He served in the South African War receiving the Queen's medal with three clasps.

He retired from the Army in 1903, owing to a riding accident, and took a farm in East Africa, going more lately to the Rocky Mountains.Afterwards he returned home and became well known in Ireland on the turf as an owner of winning race horses and as a member of the Jockey Club , to which he was elected in 1912.

Among the many horses he owned were The White Knight which won two Ascot Gold Cups, the Goodwood Cup, the Coronation Cup and the Newbury Cup and Son of Desmond for which he paid £10,000 for a half share although he later had to pay more than that to purchase the remaining half share.

He spent his winters in Grantham where he lived at North House, North Parade, and rode with a number of the local hunts.

On the outbreak of War , he made every effort to return to the Service, and in August 1914 , was gazetted Captain in the Lincolnshire Yeomanry.Being anxious to proceed on active service he was finally successful in being attached to the 1st Life Guards , in which his father and two brothers had served.Amongst the 1 Life Guards casualties was Reginald Wyndham, three of his men had been wounded and he had been killed leading his beloved troop into action, on 6 November 1914.

On 6th November, during the desperate fighting of what became known as the 1st Battle of Ypres, the Germans broke though the French lines south of Zillebeke in three places.They penetrated the gap with great numbers of troop as far as Zwarteleen, only two miles from Ypres itself. With no reserves available in the front line the 7th Cavalry Brigade, then at Zillebeke, galloped forward and 1st and 2nd Life Guards dismounted and bayonet charged the advancing Germans through a thickly wooded landscape regaining the lost positions at the cost of Capt .Wyndham, one corporal and two troopers killed and twenty one others wounded.

Many in the regiment considered Reginald's death the saddest loss of the day:‘So well liked was Sinbad [nickname] amongst the troops that when darkness fell that same night, two drivers from the machine gun section, Rubber Reeves and Tinker Underwood, got two horses and a half-limber, galloped up to the scene of the counter-attack, and brought back his body for burial in a near-by churchyard. They received no official recognition for this action but Sinbad's brother, Lord Leconfield, sent them both a token of his gratitude and a letter of thanks.'

In his will William left unsettled property of £325,341 (gross), £303,955 (net). He left £3000 to the officers of 17th Lancers for the promotion of sport in the regiment and his collection of stuffed hunting trophies to the Borough of Grantham.

Lady Constance (mother) donated £1,000 towards a new park in Grantham to be opened as a war memorial. It was named Wyndham Park in his honour.